Here's How Technology is Ruining Our Relationships

And why device-free moments are crucial for connection.

Sometimes it seems like technology is replacing genuine, un-edited conversation. On top of that, our constant connection can make it feel like we’re losing the capacity for solitude, an ability that's crucial to developing a stable sense of self.

These shifts can affect our levels of empathy, a quality that clinical psychologist Sherry Turkle says is born in conversation. Turkle, author of the New York Times bestselling book Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age, joins host Lori Leibovich on this week’s episode of The Labor of Love to discuss how this loss of empathy is affecting our friendships, relationships, and marriages.

In order to restore conversation, Turkle suggests carving out sacred (device-free) spaces, such as the kitchen, the dining room, or the car. And it’s not just kids who need more time without their phones. Parents are guilty of attempting to document everything their children do, instead of focusing on being present in the moment.